diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index 72f7c83fd1..9be82a865a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -940,6 +940,13 @@ class Cache:
         rmap = {icu_lower(v) if isinstance(v, str) else v:k for k, v in iteritems(self.fields[field].table.id_map)}
         return {name:rmap.get(icu_lower(name) if isinstance(name, str) else name, None) for name in item_names}
 
+    @read_api
+    def get_item_name_map(self, field, normalize_func=None):
+        ' Return mapping of item values to ids '
+        if normalize_func is None:
+            return {v:k for k, v in self.fields[field].table.id_map.items()}
+        return {normalize_func(v):k for k, v in self.fields[field].table.id_map.items()}
+
     @read_api
     def author_data(self, author_ids=None):
         '''
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py b/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
index 0945754d01..ff28b9dbb5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
@@ -322,10 +322,14 @@ def render_data(mi, use_roman_numbers=True, all_fields=False, pref_name='book_di
     field_list = [(x, all_fields or display) for x, display in field_list]
     db, _ = db_for_mi(mi)
     db = db.new_api
+    field_maps = {}
 
     def item_id_if_has_note(field, item_val):
         if db.field_supports_notes(field):
-            item_id = db.get_item_id(field, item_val)
+            nmap = field_maps.get(field)
+            if nmap is None:
+                nmap = field_maps[field] = db.get_item_name_map(field)
+            item_id = nmap.get(item_val)
             if item_id is not None:
                 if db.notes_for(field, item_id):
                     return item_id